UPA has put India on the verge of disintegration: Modi in Chennai

Chennai, Feb 8: BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting at VGP Ground at Vandalur, 25 kilometres from here, on Saturday. Modi addressed two rallies earlier in the day, one in Imphal in Manipur and another in Guwahati in Assam. This is Modi's third visit to Tamil Nadu since his anointment as the PM candidate of his party in September last year.

9:40 pm

Thanking the six political parties who attended the rally, Modi said, " I thank the 6 political parties who have come here to cooprate with us to build a glorious India".

9:20 pm

Hitting out at Union minister Chidambaram, who is from Tamil Nadu, Modi said, "An arrogant minister from Tamil Nadu said Modi's knowledge is such that it can be written behind a postal stamp".

"Only if you put a postal stamp, a letter gets delivered. I have proven myself as an administrator but what have you done as an economist?", Modi hit out at Chidambaram. "You are here because of Harvard, I am here because of my hardwork", he said. "Dear Finance Minister, knowledge of economics does not come from books alone", he said, taking a dig at Chidambaram.

Further, Modi slammed the UPA government for not creating jobs for the youth in the country.

9:15 pm

Congress respect corruption a lot. Their allies are allowed to loot and in Tamil Nadu, you have the beneficiaries too, said Modi, taking a dig at the DMK government in the state.

9:10 pm

Slamming the UPA's style of functioning,Modi said, ""Centre vs State, Party vs Government, Government vs Supreme Court, Defence Minister vs Army this is what is happening". Our Federal Structure must be respected in letter & spirit. Irrespective of which party it was, Atal ji embraced them all, he said.

9:00pm

"In the last 60 years never before has there been tension between the Centre and the Armed Forces", said Modi. But in last 10 years, the forces are dived in sectarian lines, thanks to the UPA government, he said.

The thought and work culture of UPA has put India on the verge of disintegration & to save nation we need to bid them goodbye, he said. Work culture must be of cooperation but confrontation, he added.

8:55 pm

Raj Bhawan, IT departments, various commissions and even CBI are being misused, said Modi. "To win trust votes CBI is misused. They are used to make and break governments", he said. "Grains meant for poor were given to alcohol makers at 80p even when SC said give it to the poor", he added.

8:51 pm

Raj Bhawans have become Congress Bhawans, says Modi. Elected governments pass laws but governors do not sign them. This is the institutional decline they are doing, he said.

8:47 pm

"Such a noble nation we are but on all 4 sides we are being troubled be it China, SL, Bangladesh, Pakistan", said Modi, referring to the incident of Srilanka arresting Tamil fishermen. "We need a strong government in Delhi. If India is strong then our neighbours will also be friendly with us", he said.

"If the Government had even little concern for the poor then the condition of the fishermen community in TN would be different", he said. Fishermen of Tamil Nadu have to face major problems. Fishermen are spending time in jails in Srilanka, he said.

8:43 pm

They (Congress) keep talking about the power. After Independence they have always done it. When polls come they remember poor, said Narendra Modi.

8:40 pm

The troubles we have seen in the last 10 years have not been seen ever before after Independence, says Narendra Modi, slamming the Congress government.

People gather in huge numbers at the venue. Modi's speech will begin shortly.

6.30 pm

Local leaders speak.

6.10 pm

Venkaiah Naidu arrives.

Police have put up a five-tier security ring around the venue after Intelligence Bureau officials raised an alert about a possible attack on Modi during his visit. More than 5,000 police personnel have been deployed at various placed across the city as well as the venue. About 5 lakh people are expected to turn up at the meeting.

Modi is likely to meet business delegates at a formal meeting at the hotel where Modi will stay during his visit. He may also hold meetings with some local political leaders.

This is Modi's third visit too Tamil Nadu since his anointment last September

BJP's allies Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Tamil Nadu Makkal Katchi and Indhiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) would share the stage with Modi, according to State BJP sources. National leaders like R Venkaiah Naidu and P Muralidhar Rao besides various state leaders would also be present at the rally.